consequences, tell him."

"But you don't realize the consequences. I should be obliged to go to
sea, leave you alone, and have scarcely any money to send you. But if he
took it pleasantly, he could make it worth my while to leave the navy,
which he has always wished me to do, or let us have sufficient coin for
you to come to any port I am stationed at. As long as it was only myself,
I didn't care so much; yet Bromley Towers _is_ worth saving, if
possible." A pause. "But I can't think what you will do while I am away."

"Shall I cultivate our visitors, Mr. and Mrs. Stevens?"

"Not for the world; we must let them slide quietly, and then people will
begin to understand we don't wish to be called on."

"I daresay you are right; this house must be an _oubliette_ till your
awful uncle is confessed to." Bluebell spoke with some asperity; the
concealment had become so unbearable. What would the Rollestons think if
her mother imparted to them her improbable story of being married to a
man who could not acknowledge her? And that dear old captain would most
likely imagine the worst without her being able to undeceive him. But
Harry was deep in _Bradshaw_, and unobservant.

"I shall sleep in London, I think, and go down next morning. Let me see,
I shan't be able to get away till after the new year. Lord Bromley has
the usual family gathering on for Christmas."

"Won't the time of your return somewhat depend on the way your
communication is received?" asked Bluebell, demurely.

"Well, rather," laughing. "It won't do to bring it in head and shoulders.
I must stay a little while first and watch my opportunity."

Bluebell walked with him to the station next day. It was freezing hard--a
bright, bracing morning; and when he had taken his place, and the train
had whistled off, she was shocked to find how her spirits rose. Of
course, she told herself it was because there would soon be no occasion
for concealment; but there was a sensation of present relief not quite to
be accounted for by that.

Young people care quite as much as their elders for occasional
solitude--more, perhaps, for they have generally brighter thoughts to
fill it. Bluebell, from the reasons before mentioned, in her anxious
compliance with his every whim, had become quite a slave to Harry, and a
little breathing-time was far from unwelcome. After all, she had a good
deal exaggerated his sacrifice, which was made entirely to please
himself!

Leaving the road,